Floral Flotilla is Practice Run For BIG DUCK’s Big Adventure

BIG DUCK will again be leading the Chelsea Fringe Flora Flotilla on Sunday afternoon starting from Mill Meadows around 2.45pm.  It’s going to be quackers!

This year will see the biggest number of both powered and non-powered crafts decorated with flowers including new boats Pirate Pizza and the ‘Padding Petals’, a group from the Eyot Boat Centre in a bell boat.  Lyndon Yorke will also be bringing one of his amphibious car boats which is always a fun sight to see on the river.

BIG DUCK is based in Wargrave and is owned by Timothy Dodd-Wilson.  His first appearance on the river was in 2017 at Henley Royal Regatta and then at Henley Festival donning a black tie.  He’s going on his biggest adventure in June this year – travelling on an epic voyage to Lechlade and then all the way to Teddington starting on 15 June.  He will be ducking under 154 bridges in total!

Tim and BIG DUCK are raising money for the RNLI.  He said,  “The 1981 Penlee lifeboat disaster has always been close to my heart as I was there when it happened, and witnessed the devastation caused to a small community just one week before Christmas. BIG DUCK and I want to help raise money and awareness for the brave volunteers who put their lives on the line to keep the UKs seas and waterways safe. If you take a flight, a ferry, or just a walk on the beach, you may one day need there help. It’s going to be a huge challenge as 23  of the bridges are lower than the height of BIG DUCK, especially with the lowest bridge measuring at a height of a mere 7 feet 6 inches.  The Floral Flotilla will be a good practice for us when we go under Henley bridge.”

If you would like to go donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bigducksbigadventure

There’s still time to enter a boat for the floral flotilla, please email Victoria Newton at victorianewton@me.com